Well the good news is that my cough is improving and at this rate it should be gone by Friday. Still there, but not as bad as earlier. All we need to hope for now is that the heavy snow that may hit on Friday does not in fact happen!!
Over the last couple of days I have been looking on the internet for videos of people climbing Kilimanjaro. Whilst there are many, the best one I found is: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxq53a1bTsU&feature=related - if you have a few spare minutes take a look.
For the most part I found it inspiring and the excitement I have had now for a few months of pushing my creaking bones to get to the summit was re-enforced. What a truly fantastic thing to attempt to do !! I still cannot believe I am even trying to be honest. I would be lying however if, at the same time, seeing footage like that made me a little apprehensive. I think though that perhaps that's a natural reaction. The shortage of breath these guys had on the last day was acute.
To me however, and to all my now good friends who I have the pleasure of climbing with, perhaps the most telling part of the film was at the very end where the climbers thank the guides "for teaching me to walk slowly". My memories of the two "iron men" failing to reach 3,300m in Austria because they went too fast flooded back. If there's one thing I have learned these past few months it is this: fast walkers stand a much reduced chance of making it. Whether I make it or not remains to be seen, I will of course give it my best shot. But that "best shot" will be at a sensible slow pace !!
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